PETALING JAYA: Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau has likened the tiff between his party and PAS to a spat between a husband and wife.
Lau said differences were bound to exist in any team, country, company or family, adding that finding ways to resolve them is key to moving forward.
"A husband and wife may have different personalities but they are always partners until they meet the creator.
"A team that argues will go further than a team who agrees on everything for the sake of avoiding confrontation," he said in a statement on Tuesday (July 30).
He also stressed the need for unity and to "agree to disagree".
Lau said Perikatan Nasional, of which both Gerakan and PAS are component parties, should close ranks as it was a relatively new coalition.
"Since its formation, we have yet to sit down and settle our differences. To me, the time has come to strengthen this coalition," he said.
While saying Perikatan had successfully achieved maximum trust from Malay voters, Lau noted that it was not enough to take over Putrajaya.
"Perikatan can not yet represent all of society and now is the time to strategise heading into the 16th General Election," he said.
Lau said he would discuss the matter with Perikatan leaders, adding that an internal forum was needed among component parties.
"Mutual respect is part of our culture. We must practise this to make mature politics a reality in our country," Lau said.
Lau's statement comes after PAS took issue with breweries donating to schools while Gerakan aligned with DAP over the issue involving funding of Chinese schools by alcohol companies.
This led to Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong threatening that the party could leave Perikatan.
PAS, however, has not backed down, with senior PAS leaders including vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah and Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor telling Gerakan to leave the party if they wish.
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari previously expressed disappointment with Gerakan's stance saying both parties could not be in the same coalition for the next general election.
